What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 17 patients with definite and progressive multiple sclerosis to evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The study found no significant benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared to placebo based on the Kurtzke disability status scale among the 17 patients. While a lesser proportion of patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen experienced deterioration of bowel/bladder function after 12 months, overall, the therapy was deemed ineffective for progressive multiple sclerosis.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with progressive multiple sclerosis should be aware that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is largely ineffective for managing their condition. Current evidence suggests this treatment does not offer significant overall benefits for improving disability or disease progression.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its small sample size of only 17 patients, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.